Neurocysticercosis: Combined Treatment With Praziquantel (PZQ) and Albendazole (ABZ)

Neurocysticercosis is the single major cause of acquired or late-onset epilepsy in the world, and a common diagnosis in immigrant populations in the United States and other industrialized countries. An estimated 50 million humans are affected by Neurocysticercosis. The disease occurs when a parasite called Taenia solium, or the pig tapeworm, infects the brain, forming cysts. Neurocysticercosis is generally treated with 1 of 2 drugs, praziquantel or albendazole. However, current treatment with either of these drugs alone is not totally effective. The goal of this trial is to determine if combination drug therapy of praziquantel and albendazole is safe and more effective to cure Neurocysticercosis than either drug administered alone. This trial will consist of two sub-studies and a parent study. In the first substudy which was performed and completed as the initial part and guide to the design of the parent study, a series of 32 patients with viable cystic intraparenchymal Neurocysticercosis were treated with either albendazole ( 15 mg / kg /d ) + praziquantel ( 50 mg / kg/ d ) or albendazole+Placebo in a double blind randomized study. Half of patients in each group had their seizure disorder treated with phenytoin and the other half with carbamazepine (not assigned by the study). The study was designed and powered for pharmacokinetic evaluation and exploratory safety so comparative cysticidal efficacy has not yet been analyzed. There were no safety concerns. Pharmacokinetics of ABZ and PZQ were obtained and described. In the parent study, a total of 240 participants ( including the 32 participants from the first substudy ) will be randomly chosen to receive albendazole + praziquantel, albendazole + placebo or albendazole at an increased dose + placebo for 10 days. These groups will also receive other standard medications to manage the disease including appropriate anti-epileptic drug therapy. Participants will stay in the hospital for at least 2 weeks after treatment begins, which includes 5 days after the end of anti-parasitic treatment. After discharge from the hospital, follow-up visits will be on days 21 and 30 after treatment begins, then monthly until day 90, and finally every 3 months until completing 18 months. Brain images will be taken at 6 and 12 months after treatment begins. For participants, duration of the trial is 1 year and a half.